Railroad washout signal controller



Dec. 9, 1947.

A. E. SHELDON RAILROAD WASHOUT SIGNAL CONTROLLER Filed Dec. 8, 1945 Inventor Allan E SheZd H Patented Dec. 9, 1947 UNITED, STATE PATENT OFFICE 2,432,451 RAILROAD WASHOUT SIGNAL CONTROLLER Allan E. Sheldon, Yakima, Wash. Application December 8, 1945, Serial No. 633,778

1 Claim.

My invention as described herein, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, consists of a signal system for railroads, an object of which is to provide means whereby when a washout occurs an electric signal will be immediately transmitted to the nearest block signal stations.

Another object of my invention is to provide a weight controlled electric switch.

A further object of this invention is to provide an electric switch controlled by weights for holding the switch open and for closing the same.

A primary object of my invention is the provision of means whereby railway wrecks due to road bed washouts and the loss of life and injury to persons and property incident thereto may be prevented.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse section of a railroad embracing my invention, and

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a portion thereof.

Figure 3 is a reduced detail perspective view of a casing and weight.

In the accompanying drawings, and in the following specification, the same reference characters are used to designate the same parts and elements throughout and in which It, refers to my invention in its entirety and H, indicates a railroad bed comprising ties l2, and rails l3 and Hi. My switch and actuating means therefor consists of a steel base plate l5, secured at its end It, to the end 11, of a tie M, by spikes i8 and I9. The latter spike or bolt 19, has the conductor end 2%], fixed thereto, the other end of the conductor being connected at 2!, to the flange 22, of the rail I i, as indicated at23.

Mounted upon the plate l5, outwardly of the tie end 11, is a conductor L-bolt 24, which is insulated from the said plate 25, by non-conducting bushings 25 and 26, secured b nuts 21 and 28, which also lock the bolt 24, to the plate l5. A conductor wire 29, has its end 30, also held in contact with bolt 24, by the said nut 23, and the end 3|, of said wire 29, is carried across the track and connected at 32, to the web 33, of rail 13.

Fixed to the end 34, of the plate by bolt 35, is a U-bearing 36, the arms 31 and 38, of which form a support for the pin 39, upon which the rocker arm 4!], is pivotally mounted. Upon the end 4%, of said arm is adjustably mounted a weight ii, adapted tobe held in fixed adjusted position by a set screw 42. To the outer end 43, of the arm 40, is attached one end 44, of a cable 45, the other end 46, of which is attached to an eye 41, of the weight 48, which is seated upon a low place t9, adjacent the road-bed, where a washout may occur in case of heavy rainfalls. Should a washout occur adjacent the weight 48, its support being washed away, said weight will drop due to the fact that it is heavy enough to overcome the weight i, and in falling will pull down with it the cable 45, and arm end 43, raising the end 4', of the arm and bringing its terminal 50, into contact with the hooked end 5|, of bolt 24, whereby a circuit will be closed between the rails l3 and M, which are in an electric circuit with block signal station danger lights in both directions from the circuit closer Ill. The members 40, 36 and i5, as well as the member 28, are conductors of electricity, as also are members 24 and 29, whereby the rails l3 and I4, may be brought into a closed circuit.

In order to protect the operating mechanism of the devise I provide a casing 52, the rear wall 53, of which is provided with a longitudinal centrally disposed slot 54, through which the end 33, of the arm 40, projects. This casing 52, is not only for protecting the mechanism enclosed therein from weather conditions or being struck by objects which may b dragging from a train,

but also from being tampered with by unauthorized persons. base plate l5.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details and parts such as come within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to. in actual practice, if desired.

Having now described my invention that which I claim as new and desire to procure by Letters Patent is:

In a washout signalling system, a rearwardly open circuit closer adapted to be closed when the surrounding earth becomes dislodged, which includes a base plate of conducting material adapted to be attached to the upper side of a railroad tie adjacent one end, an electrical conductor adapted to couple the plate with a railroad rail supported on the tie adjacent the base plate, the base plate being adapted to project longitudinally beyond the end of the tie adjacent to which it The casing may be locked to the is attached, a substantially U-shaped bracket of conducting material fixed to the base plate adjacent the end remote from the tie, a rock arm of conducting material mounted in the upper end of the bracket to rock about a pivot which lies perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base plate and having one end projecting beyond the end of the base plate remote from the tie, a relatively light weight mounted on the rock arm for adjustment between the bracket and the end of the rock arm remote from that which projects beyond the base plate yieldingly to hold the lastmentioned end of the rock arm elevated, an. electrically isolated contact post of conducting material rising from the base plate between. the? from the rock arm and adapted to be supported by the road bed of the railroad adjacent the tie 50 that when the material of the road bed upon which the heavy weight is supported becomes dislodged, the heavy weight will fall and move the rock arm into contact with the contact arm thereby closing a signal circuit through the rails, a case enclosing the contact post and the U- shaped bracket and said case having a vertical elongated .slotZ-in; one end' through whichzprojects the end of'the rock arm carrying the flexible member whereby access may be had to the rock arm without opening the case.

ALLAN E. SHELDON "file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES. PATENTS Number Name Date 835,411 Dowler Nov. 6, 1906 1,'696;209 Pool 'et a1 Dec. 25, 1928 Stanton Dec. 17. 1935 

